(Leonid Eremeychuk/iStock/Getty Images)

U.S. trade commission sues pesticide makers, alleging price scheme

Washington | Reuters — The U.S. Federal Trade Commission on Thursday sued two top pesticide manufacturers for allegedly entering into exclusive contracts with distributors that kept prices paid by farmers artificially high. The consumer watchdog agency was motivated to bring the case in part because rising costs and supply chain disruptions from Russia’s invasion of […] Read more

Supply shortages for some herbicides and fungicides leaves U.S. farmers worried about yields and weed pressures in coming years.

‘Off the charts’ chemical shortages hit U.S. farms

Tight supplies force some farmers to change plans, find alternatives where they can

Reuters – U.S. farmers have cut back on using common weedkillers, hunted for substitutes to popular fungicides and changed planting plans over persistent shortages of agricultural chemicals that threaten to trim harvests.  Spraying smaller volumes of herbicides and turning to less-effective fungicides increase the risk for weeds and diseases to dent crop production at a […] Read more

Wheat fields planted early in clean conditions are showing less weed pressure this spring, but fields left to fallow for soybean or corn production will have lots of weeds.

Higher than normal weed pressure in evidence

Tough weather conditions last fall and moisture this spring have prompted weed proliferation

Weather conditions last fall, coupled with a wet spring, have created higher than normal weed pressure across Ontario, according to agronomists.  “There’s a lot of people that planned to spray fields that couldn’t get to it in the fall or planned to work fields that couldn’t get to it and the weeds grew, and they […] Read more

With no new products in the pipeline and fewer options due to re-evaluation, resistance or supply issues, producers need to be nimble when it comes to weed control options.

Living without Linuron in the tank

Growers will have to alter practices and mix and match other products to control weeds

When the 2020 re-evaluation of herbicide Linuron dropped the application rate for potatoes, growers thought they would be off the hook until 2023, when the new rate comes into effect.  However, the registrant ran into regulatory issues after sourcing a technical active ingredient from a new provider. That pushed back production, causing supply issues.  “It […] Read more

Bayer launches herbicide with two modes of action

Bayer CropScience’s new herbicide, Corvus, is now commercially available for growers in Eastern Canada for the 2022 season.  Corvus provides season-long control of broadleaf and grass weeds, including glyphosate-resistant weeds in field and seed corn.   It combines Group 2 and 27 modes of action, and can be applied pre-emerge, pre-plant incorporated, or early post emerge […] Read more


John Deere’s ExactApply is an example of a pulse width modification (PWM) nozzle system.

How to choose the right sprayer nozzle

Do some research, but also call a specialist for advice

Glacier FarmMedia – Under the heading “Perhaps Too Much of a Good Thing,” sprayer expert Tom Wolf says the biggest challenge when selecting the right nozzles for the field sprayer is having too much choice. “Finding the right nozzle is a bit of a chore simply because there is an overabundance of supply,” says Wolf.  […] Read more

An analysis of 27 years of herbicide evaluation trials from 1992- 2018 found that when weed control was less than 94 per cent over the entire weed community and growing season, it exacerbated the effect of heat or drought on corn yields.

Weeds may compound effects of climate change impact

Study says corn yields are expected to be reduced as weeds compete for fewer water resources in the American Midwest

Glacier FarmMedia – A U.S. study has found that weeds will likely deepen the negative impact of climate change on corn yields, says a scientist. Such results likely extend to other crops, said Marty Williams, an ecologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  “I think what this tells farmers is that going forward, more than […] Read more

Use caution in burndown herbicide applications

Use caution in burndown herbicide applications

Pre-harvest burndown herbicide applications can lower seed losses, reduce staining and make combining a smoother process, according to a September 2020 article posted to Field Crop News. The article said crop quality often increases because harvest timing after the field has been sprayed is more predictable, so harvest schedules can be better managed.  A pre-harvest […] Read more


Health Canada’s proposed new maximum residue levels for glyphosate would move them closer to American and international regulations.

Glyphosate limits may be increased

Pest management agency aims to harmonize Canadian levels with competitors

Glacier FarmMedia – In May, Health Canada proposed increasing the maximum residue levels of glyphosate for commodities such as oats, lentils, peas and beans. Canadians had 75 days to comment on the changes. The consultation period ended July 20. For certain crops, the proposed MRLs are higher than previous levels.  Why it matters: Glyphosate is […] Read more

The seed head of chess grass extending beyond a winter wheat canopy.

Grassy weeds in winter wheat at harvest

OMAFRA Field Crop Report for July 28

Three different types of grassy weeds have been found above the winter wheat canopy at harvest this year. To prevent them from becoming a problem, they need to be identified so that the appropriate management actions can be taken. Here is a breakdown of each grass species and control options. Chess grass (Bromus secalinus) Management: Chess grass […] Read more